WELSH radio presenter John Humphrys accused Alastair Campbell yesterday of attempting to destabilise the BBC "in a pretty tacky way".

WELSH radio presenter John Humphrys accused Alastair Campbell yesterday of attempting to destabilise the BBC "in a pretty tacky way".

Humphrys, whose "two-way" with reporter Andrew Gilligan on Radio 4's Today programme sparked the controversy that led to the Hutton Inquiry, said Campbell's "triumphalist behaviour has probably helped the BBC".

He told the Radio Times that the corporation's chairman and director-general should not have resigned over Lord Hutton's report, and said the flagship programme had to hold its nerve.

Humphrys, 60, told the magazine, "The day Hutton was published was hellish.

"When Alastair Campbell made his presidential appearance at the foot of a grand staircase (at the Foreign Press Association) it felt like lying in the gutter while your head's kicked in."

Humphrys said he had known the Prime Minister's former press secretary for a long time. "I like him, and he's loyal, amusing and clever, but he's tried to destabilise the BBC in a pretty tacky way.

"Maybe he thought we were an easy target because we're dependent on the Government of the day."

Humphrys added, "I'm more than happy to have my record weighed in the balance with his.

"The public can make their own judgments. His triumphalist behaviour has probably helped the BBC."

The presenter said he was "hugely surprised" by the contents of Hutton Report, saying, "I'm not a law lord. But I don't think the chairman and director-general should have resigned."

He had no idea that the interview on May 29 last year would spark such controversy.

"I was just coming awake," Humphrys said. "Stories at that time are usually less important than ones we save later for our main audience."

The Today presenter added, "The biggest risk is ourselves. We have to hold our nerve."